Growing

I seem to be on a journey of sorts at the moment. You know how while you are going through the growth you don't really understand it or realise it until you have the come out the other side? Well, I am definitely not out the other side yet but i just have this stirring in my heart that something good is going on, that i am being stretched and that at the end of it, i will be a better person for it.

I am currently reading Joyce Meyers book called How to succeed at being yourself. I started it a little while ago to be honest but got side tracked by life. A few days ago i was listening to her podcast on her site and i remembered that i actually had this book of hers. I dug it out of my bookcase and picked up where i left off.

This is part of what i read on Tuesday night: Insecure people say "yes" when they really mean "no". Those who succeed at being themselves don't allow others to control them. They are led by their heart, not by the fear of displeasing others or being rejected by them.

We can not get angry at people because they place demands on us. It is our responsibility to order our lives. We need to know our identity, our direction and our calling - Gods will for us. We must make the decision that will keep us pressing toward our goals. We must be focused individuals with purpose.

Hmmm, I'm feeling a bit of a prodding going on here. These two paragraphs have been playing over and over in my mind. I have been chewing on them, playing them over, thinking about them, pulling them apart - meditating on them.

I don't have anything in particular to say about the above but i just thought that perhaps someone else might need to read it. Might need to let it sit on their heart. Thank you Heavenly Father for teaching me.

I'm off to go in search of some fabric at lunch time. I am hoping to make some curtains for my kitchen as well as my bathroom. My brother is arriving from South Africa in 14 days and i am so excited!

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

~Lynne

Thursday update

Last night, while watching the catch up episode of Greys Anatomy, i ran out of yarn for my scarf. I thought that one ball of yarn would be enough for this scarf but i think it is going to need more like 3 balls of yarn. This is where i have had to stop - at least until Saturday when i get some more yarn.
Even though the pattern is very simple i have had to frog it three times. I decided to use stitch markers to help me and now i seem to have gotten the hang of it. Once it is complete i will give you a bit more of a review on the pattern.

I have also made a fab find. We have a fabric warehouse just round the corner from work. It is only open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays but i think it will have to become my regular lunch hour "thing" on a Friday. This is what i picked up from them last Friday.

The first five fabrics, from the left, are all 100% cotton and two of them i have started using for my latest sewing project. The end fabric i am going to be using to make a tote of some sort but i still have to try to find or create some sort of pattern for it so i will hold off on that project for now.

Last night i started on my first apron. I have made my own pattern, using brown paper. Once completed i will be doing a step by step tutorial if anyone is interested. It is really looking good so far, fingers crossed it still looks good once i have finished it as i am a very newbie sewer and have not actually done any sewing with it yet - just cutting it out and positioning it all.

Early hours of Monday morning i found myself laying in bed, wide awake and getting angrier with every minute that my mind was going round and round over something that had been brewing over the past few days. Eventually, at about 4am i got out of bed and did an entry in my art journal. It was the best thing that i could have done. I have opened up a flickr account and you can see my art journal on there if you wish.

My plans for the rest of the day include finishing work, doing some vacuuming, working on my apron and then knitting while watching this weeks Greys Anatomy.

Peace.

Secret Pal 11

My first secret pal! I can not wait. Here are my answers the questions posted on the blog.

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
At the moment i am loving Rowan Damask yarn but i am not very picky. The only yarn that i don't like is mohair yarn as it makes me itch.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
All my needles are currently sitting in an empty glass mayonnaise jar. I keep meaning to find a better place for them but just want find anything that actually works well.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I have only been knitting for about four or five months now. I downloaded a book off of Lion brands and taught myself the basics and just worked my way up from there. I am definitely a beginner but always love a challenge so i never really look at the skill level of a pattern before i start it.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
I have a wish list on the left hand side of my blog.

5. What's your favorite scent?
My favorite scent is definitely Jasmin but i also love cinnamon and rose petals - just not together.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
I definitely have a sweet tooth. I love milk chocolate but am not very fond of white chocolate or chocolate with fruit or Turkish delight in.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
Along with this knitting thing i do i also scrap, paint and sew. I am not very good with sewing clothes but love other sewing projects and i am about to try my hand at quilting.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
I like contemporary christian bands but i am not able to play MP3's.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
I love pinks, browns, turquoises and greens. I prefer softer colours but i don't mind any colours.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I am currently living with my fiance and our 3 cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
I wear hats and ponchos but not mittens.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I love knitting sweaters, tanks and shawls.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Right now i am finishing off a sweater, Tomatoe from Knitting daily. I also have Montego Bay scarf on my needles and a beanie for my other half.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Most definitely!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I definitely prefer circular needles but am not really bothered what they are made out of. Most of mine are aluminium but i do have two bamboo ones. I currently have US sizes 2,5,6,7 and 10 circulare needles.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
No

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
I haven't really kept track of when i started it but i would say it is about 6 - 8 weeks old. I only have the ribbing on the neck left to do but my scarf has taken over. I will come back to it though.
18. What is your favorite holiday?
I love Christmas and Thanksgiving and my favourite season is Fall.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
I don't collect anything in particular, just scrapbooking stash, 100% cotton fabric for the sewing and then yarn of course!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I don't have any magazine subs yet but have been thinking about it. I would love to get Green Gable pattern, some pretty stitch markers and the Knitscene Fall 2006 magazine(mainly for the Molly Ringwald sweater). I do buy Simply Knitting magazine and Interweaves Knitting mag but would love to try a different knitting magazine.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
This is not really a technique but i am trying to learn to knit socks - i guess its using dpns that is throwing me off.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Not yet but am learning to.

23. When is your birthday?
11 September 1981

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
I am still waiting for my invite but i have a lot of people in front of me so might be a while.

That's all the questions answered. I am pretty easy going so don't mind what i get.

Seeking

The current word at OLW is Seeking. This has always been one of my favourite words and when i saw it was the current challenge i knew i had to take part. Seeking God's favour and His blessings on my life have been on my mind and on my heart for the past few weeks. I am so grateful that i am growing in my relationship with Him. I know that this is true because I am starting to understand a little about Grace. With each day that passes i realise that it is not what i do or how i act that will bring God's favour into my life but rather His Grace and Love. This layout has been very good for my soul.

This was the last photo that i was able to print from my printer before it broke. Hopefully, my dad will be able to get me the belt to fix it soon.

Don't forget to go here and leave me a comment to be entered in for a RAK.